Expert Reviews & Buying Guide

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How to Choose a Mountain Bike

Mountain bikes are among the most fun outdoor products you can get. To help you find the perfect mountain bike for your needs, we’ve researched a whole series of new and bestselling bicycles. After lots and lots of detailed analysis, we picked the ten best products. Before we jump into the reviews for the best cheap mountain bikes, take a look at the specs you need to keep in mind when buying.

Suspension: This will determine the terrain type your bike is designed to handle. There are three suspension types to choose from: rigid, hardtail, and full. Rigid bikes have no suspension while full have front and rear. Hardtail only has a front suspension.

Wheel Size: You will also find a few different options for wheel sizes. Smaller wheels are easier to maneuver than larger wheels, but larger wheels roll over rough terrain better. Choose the size based on the trails you will frequent and your preference.

Frame Material: The frame material influences the weight and durability of your bike, plus the smoothness of your ride. We recommend finding a balance between durability, weight, and cost. Most bikes will come in aluminum alloy, steel, titanium, and carbon fiber.

Gears: Mountain bikes can be single speed or have a number of gears. If you are riding on steep terrain, you will want to have more gear options. If the terrain is mostly flat, a single-speed bike should work fine. Your choice.

Brake Type: Brakes are another important feature to consider. Most bikes will have either hydraulic or cable-activated disc brakes. However, some entry-level bikes will have rim brakes, which are more consistent but difficult and expensive to service.

Weight: Lastly, you will want to make sure that your mountain bike is a manageable weight. You may have to lift your bike on different occasions, so you will want to ensure it is light enough for you. However, you will still want it to be sturdy.

Top 10 Products

All right, now that you know how to pick good, cheap mountain bikes let’s get to the reviews. If you’re in a hurry, take a look at the excellent top pick and budget pick below. Have fun riding!

The Diamondback Recoil was the best cheap mountain bike in our review. It’s excellent, in fact, it’s ridiculously good. We loved this product for several reasons starting with the value. While pricey, this is a premium product that offers a high-end ride for years to come. It is by far the best value mountain bike with a high-end design and lots of features. It is also very simple to use, making it perfect for beginners and pros alike. You get a very lightweight frame and 24 gears that make this bike great for a variety of terrains. With its full suspension system, it will even give you a smooth ride on difficult terrain. Beginners will love the large wheels because they will allow you to glide over logs and rocks effortlessly. The tires are perfect for solid traction, and you will be happy to know that they include a Kevlar belt, which is our favorite feature on this bike. The Kevlar will help to protect your tires from punctures so that you can take on tough conditions without worry. This bike is the real deal, and we highly recommend it!

Even though all of the products in this review are affordable for their feature set, the Schwinn Protocol takes the spot for our favorite budget pick. It is a very inexpensive option that still offers the quality you would expect from a good, cheap mountain bike. The Schwinn manages to balance advanced specs with a wallet-friendly price; we love it! For example, it features a dual suspension, so you will be able to take on bumpy terrain. You will also have no problem climbing steep slopes as you can adjust the speed with 24 gears. The Shimano EZ-Fire shifter allows you to make fast and smooth gear transitions, so you will never miss a beat. While you are cruising along, you will at some point need reliable brakes. The brakes on this bike are unique because it has two different brake systems. On the front wheel, you get a Promax disc brake. The rear wheel has a v-type pull brake, which will help you to stop quickly in dusty and dirty riding conditions. There’s a lot to like about this bike, and it offers quite a bit more than most other budget options.

The Gravity FSX Mountain Bike is another one of the best affordable mountain bikes. We love that you can purchase this bike in four modern colors including black, gray, white, and yellow. You can also choose different sizes to get the best fit for you. The Shimano shifters on this bike let you quickly change between the 24 gears so that you can climb mountains and take on ravines in a single trail ride. We like that this budget-friendly mountain bike doesn’t compromise quality. It's well built and sturdy. You can ride it with confidence on rough trails and know that the frame and suspension system will hold up. We also love that the rims on this bike are double walled. They have a great combination of strength and low weight, so they don’t add a lot to the overall weight. Take a closer look at this bike; it’s a smart choice.

The BEIOU Carbon Fiber BO-CB020 is one of the pricier options we have come across, but it is still cheaper than many other ultra-premium mountain bikes of the same quality. It is a great choice for someone looking to get into professional mountain biking. You will be able to get impressive speed and control thanks to the 30-speed gear system. When you are racing, you can effortlessly change gears to suit the trail by using the Shimano shifter. Unlike several of the other bikes we have looked at, this one comes with a hardtail suspension. Bikers looking for a bike with easier maintenance will appreciate this feature. We also love the weight of this bike. It is ultra-light, adding to the overall usability and quality. The bottom line with this bike is that it offers high performance at an entry-level price. It is a solid investment for anyone looking to take their mountain biking level from casual hobbyist to pro.

We wanted to include the Mongoose Impasse in our reviews because it is another cheap mountain bike with lots to offer. Mongoose is one of several good mountain bike brands, so you can trust that you are going get great quality at an affordable price. In fact, you will be getting a mountain bike that is made with a sturdy aluminum frame with full suspension. With the Element Suspension fork on this bike, you will be able to take on rough terrain with increased control and comfort. Since it only has 21 different speed options, this bike is great for people who won’t be racing or taking on a lot of varying terrain conditions, such as steep mountains and ravines. However, when you do decide to take advantage of the speed options, you can fluidly make the transitions with the SRAM twist shifters. Lastly, we like the convenience of the quick release for the sturdy, front alloy wheel.

The Kent Thruster KZ2600 is the perfect option for anyone looking for a cheap mountain bike. If you plan to bike on occasion or you just don’t want to spend a lot of money, this bike will give you good value compared to many other discount mountain bikes. To start with, you get a sturdy frame that can handle the rough conditions of typical mountain biking. The aluminum frame is coupled with a dual suspension that offers 65mm travel. This feature should give you a smooth ride over most rocks and branches so that you will be able to maintain control. As long as you don’t plan on using the bike professionally, the 21-speed options should give you plenty of variation to handle flat and steep terrain. Lastly, you will get a good, smooth stop in several weather conditions thanks to the front disc brake combined with the linear pull brake on the rear wheel.

The BEIOU Carbon Fiber BO-CB005 is another great option for anyone looking to get into professional mountain biking. In fact, it is the best MTB for serious bikers, essentially tied with our top pick. Even though the bike is more expensive than some of our other favorites, it truly is worth the investment. When you buy this bike, you will be getting a high-quality product that can handle unbelievably tough conditions. The sexy carbon fiber frame gives it a lot durability, but it also makes this bike much lighter than some of our favorite aluminum bikes. Though the frame can take a lot of bumps, the hardtail suspension system helps to reduce the impact on the front wheels so that you can get more control. Since these bikes are great for racing, we also love that you can get it in several flashy colors including green, orange, red, white, and yellow. Lastly, you will be able to purchase it in three different sizes, so you can get the fit that is most comfortable to you.

The Merax Hardtail Mountain Bike is another great budget-friendly option for casual mountain bikers and beginners. Unlike several of the other basic mountain bikes we researched, this product is made from steel instead of aluminum. The steel makes this frame very tough for a low price. The bike also features a hardtail suspension system, which helps to reduce the price as well. If you aren’t going to be biking on trails covered in rocks and branches, the front suspension should be enough to make your ride comfortable and smooth. This suspension system is especially great for any cross-country riders. It allows more power to be transferred to the rear tire with every stroke so that you can pick up more speed. This feature will be especially useful since this bike only offers 21 different speed options. Overall, you should be very happy with the quality of this cheap bike. The durability combined with its performance makes it a great buy for people looking to enjoy a new hobby.

The Stowabike MTB V2 made its way into top MTB list because it isn’t just an affordable mountain bike. What makes it special is the folding frame, which gives it the name. The bike can easily be folded in half and stowed away in your garage, home, or car. This feature is great for people who are working with limited space and are often on-the-go. Even though the frame folds, when it is unfolded, it provides impressive durability. It is made from high-quality components that allow it to withstand rough conditions you would expect to see on mountain bike trails, and the full suspension system will allow you to handle those rough conditions with a lot of control. It is also worth noting that this bike is very light despite being made of cheap and durable steel. Since it is a budget option, you will get fewer gears than most mountain bikes, but overall, it will still serve a variety of novice bikers very well.

To finish up our reviews, take a look at the Diamondback Overdrive. While this is a cheap mountain bike, it has a high enough performance grade to grow with novices as they become more experienced. If you plan to do a lot of mountain biking on moderate terrains, you will be happy you made the investment in this aluminum alloy bike. The hardtail suspension system helps to keep the cost of this bike down, and it also makes for easier repairs. The fork gives you 80mm of suspension travel, so you should be able to ride over rocks and sticks while maintaining comfort and control. We love that this bike comes with 27.5-inch wheels because they give you the perfect balance of a smooth ride and maneuverability. Lastly, you can easily switch between 24 different speeds with the Shimano gear system with the three gears on the front of the bike and the eight gears on the back.

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